Lid-opening device for garbage-cans.



J. A. FRASER. LID OPENING DEVICE FOR GARBAGE CANS.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 11 1911 Patented Dec. 19. 1911.

INVEI YTOR wek'nasfi F I "agar WITN E55 ES JAMES A. ERASER, 0F FREEDOM, PENNSYLVANIA.

LID-OPENING DEVICE FQR GARBAGE-CANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed September 1, 1911. Serial No. 647,235.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janice A. FRASER. a citizen of the lnited States of America, residing at Freedom, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lid-Opening Devices for Garbage-Cans, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to lid opening devices for garbage cans, and the primary object of my invention is to furnish a garbage can with a foot actuating device that will permit of the lid of the can being easily and quickly opened when itis desired to deposit matter into the can.

I attain the above object by a device that is simple in construction, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

The device obviates the necessity of a housewife setting down a receptacle containing garbage in order to use the. hands to open the garbage can, as the device is con structcd whereby a pressure of the foot will immediately open the lid of the can and the garbage can be deposited therein and the can immediately closed upon the foot releasing the device.

The invention will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the garbage can provided with the device, showing the lid of the can in a closed position, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lid in an open position, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the can and device.

A can in accordance with this invention comprises a bottom plate 1, a cylindrical shell 2, and a Segment-shaped top plate 3. The top plate 3 partially closes the upper end of the shell 2 and the straight edge of said top plate, at the ends thereof, is provided with barrels or apertured lugs 4.

Arranged between these aperturcd lugs are the apertured lugs 5 of a lid or cover (3 adapted to close the remaining portion of the upper end of the shell 2. The lugs 5 are mounted upon the ends of a crank shaft 7, the ends of said shaft extending through the lugs 4. The cranked portion 8 of the shaft 7 is loosely connected by a strap 9 to the lid or cover 6, adjacent to the straight edge thereof, said strap being riveted or otherwise secured to the outer side of the lid cover, as at 10. The shaft 7 has a crank 11 at one end thereof and this crank has an eye 12 loosely connected to the upper end of a rod 13. The lower end of the rod is loosely connected to an eye 14, carried by the rearward extension 15 of'a semi-circular tread piece 16. Diametrically opposed sides of the tread piece 16 are pivotally mounted upon trunnions 17, carried by the outer sides of the shell 2, adjacent to the bottom plate 1. The tread piece 16 is retained upon the trunnions 17 by cotter pins 18. Connecting the rearward extension 15 of the tread piece 16 and the bottom plate 1 is a coiled retractile spring 18 normally rc taining the lid or cover 6 in. a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. The semi-circular tread piece 16 has the treadle or foot portion thereof retained in an elevated position, and when this treadle is trod upon, the spring 18* is placed under tension, the rod 13 elevated, and the shaft 7 moved to open the lid or cover As long as the pressure of the foot remains upon the tread piece 16, the lid will be open, but upon the foot releasing the tread piece, the coiled retractile spring 18 immediately restores the lid to a closed position and theparts of the opening device to their normal position. Diametrically opposed sides of the shell 2 have suitable handles 19.

The lid openin device in its entirety is made of light an durable metal, and with the semi-circular tread piece 16 surrounding the front side of the can, it is possible to open the lid or cover of the can without necessarily standing directly in front of the same.

\Vhat I claim is?- The combination with a garbage can having a top plate partially closing the top thereof of a lid for closing the remaining portion of said top, a keeper secured'to the upper face of said lid, verticall disposed apertured lugs carried by said ii and plate and arranged at each side of said plate and lid, said lugs positioned in alinement, a crank shaft having one end extending through and projecting from said lugs an its crank ortion mounted in said keeper, said shaft and lugs constituting means for hinging the lid to said plate, a crank depending from the projecting end of said shaft, :1 rod having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said depending crank,

a tread piece having one end pivotally conof said rod and having its othe'r end connected to said can and its other end pivotnected to the ban. l0 ally connected to the lower end of said rod In testimony whereof I aifix my signature means for pivoting said tread piece to the in the presence of two witnesses.

can at a point removed from the connee- JAMES A. FRASER.

tion between the tread piece and said rod, Witnesses:

and a spring connected at one end to said JOSEPH FRASER,

tread piece in proximity to the lower end WILLIAM JOLLnY. 

